Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 9:14-10:31 ESV, Acts 17:1-34 ESV, Psalm 144:1-15 ESV, Proverbs 17:27-28 ESV

Daily Verse: “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11 ESV)

EUGENES (2104): “An adjective, lit., “well born,” “well,” and genos, “a family race,” signifies “more noble.” [i]

Family race.

The type of nobility in this Verse refers to those born into wealth. In other words, silver spoons adorn their tables instead of nothing—many people ate with their fingers. You can see how bread became an eating utensil during Jesus’ time on earth.

Raised in a middle-class family, I’ve never gone without food or shelter. But many in this country have. Listening to an interview of the worship leader at Life Community Church, I had no idea he knew poverty as a child. Now a doctor, his life began as a Buddhist and led him to Jesus; he praised God for working in his life in a way that “worked for me.”

All seek.

Whether rich or poor, people have a God-sized void in their lives; we all share it in common. God created us for a relationship with Him and others. Submitting our lives to Jesus will make us better lovers of people. Our relationships will grow stronger as we mimic Jesus in our lives.

One of my favorite parts of Thor’s interview, the worship leader at LCC, happened in the middle when he talked about his dependence on God. Now a doctor, no longer living in poverty, he doesn’t depend on God like he did when poor. But from his days of fasting, Thor learned to appreciate his time of feasting.

God works differently in people’s lives; we need to give Jesus space to act. Just because we think God should do this or that doesn’t mean He will or should. Nowhere in the scriptures will you find a commandment to run other people’s lives. But you will find one that says love them.

Enjoy people instead of trying to change them. Encourage others on their journey, accepting we all travel different paths. Allowing others to live their lives will bring you the greatest reward. With God’s help, you can appreciate others, accepting them the way the Creator made them.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 104) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 8:1-9:13 ESV, Acts 16:16-40 ESV, Psalm 143:1-12 ESV, Proverbs 17:26 ESV

Daily Verse: “As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling.” (Acts 16:16 ESV)

PUTHON (4436): “In Greek mythology was the name of Pythian serpent or dragon, dwelling in Pytho, at the foot of mount Parnassus, guarding the oracle of Delphi, and slain by Apollo.  Thence the name was transferred to Apollo himself.  Later the word was applied to diviners or soothsayers, regarded as inspired by Apollo.  Since devils are the agents inspiring idolatry, 1 Cor 10:20, the young woman in Acts 16:16 was possessed by a devil instigating the cult of Apollo, and thus had “a spirit of divination.”[i]

Inspiring idolatry.

Divination worships something other than God; anything we worship more than Jesus becomes an idol.  In this case, Greek gods originate the spirit of divination found in the slave girl.  Fortune telling makes a lot of money.  “Psychic” signs sit in business windows across the United States.  Interesting how you must pay psychics, but Christ gives us His gift for free.

When the fortune telling girl annoyed Paul, he commanded the spirit to leave her; it did so immediately.  Her owners lost their best money maker, so they dragged Paul and Silas before the magistrates.  One of the many times Paul endured a beating for Jesus.

Unrestrained grace.

Christ offers His grace freely to everyone, no cost attached, completely unrestrained.  Fortune tellers make money from their connection to the spiritual world.  Spirits exist other than the Holy One.  People choose which ones they let into their lives.

Friends with a metaphysical minister, a psychic, we’ve had many spiritual discussions.  She charges her clients hundreds of dollars for her services.  When she exorcises demons from a house, she has a flat rate she charges, plus travel expenses.

Jesus came from heaven to earth at no cost to anyone.  He died on the cross for all, salvation free for any who accepted it.  Meeting the needs of others becomes our calling, not our income.  Jesus didn’t charge us for His spirit; the Holy Spirit comes to those who believe.

As I told my psychic friend one night when she tried to convince me to tap into her spiritual world, “The only spirit I want in me is Jesus.  I’m all Holy Spirit; I don’t want any others residing in me.”

Let the Holy Spirit take up residence in you.  Christ fills the empty void we all have.  In Him, you’ll find the fullness of life you can find no other way.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (pp. 218-19) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 6:1-7:20 ESV, Acts 15:36-16:15 ESV, Psalm 142:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 17:24-25 ESV

Daily Verse: “As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.” (Acts 16:4 ESV)

DOGMA (1378): “Is transliterated in English, primarily denoting an opinion or judgment; hence, an opinion expressed with authority, a doctrine, ordinance, decree.”[i]

Opinion expressed.

Paul and Timothy relay the news from the Jerusalem Counsel about the decision not to require circumcision.  Often, we hear about court rulings and decisions made by judges to enforce the law.  Every day we express our opinion an average of 35,000 times.[i]  Whether we like it or not, life demands evaluating situations and drawing conclusions.

God’s foundation.

When Paul and Timothy gathered at the Jerusalem Council to decide the issue of circumcision, they did so based on Jesus’ teachings.  The foundation for evaluating and concluding came from what Jesus said and did.  If we make our decisions through the lens of scripture, our opinions change from self-centered to God-centered ones.

God must place us in situations to help us learn to make decisions.  If circumcision didn’t become an issue, the debate and decision wouldn’t have happened.  We don’t grow if we don’t learn to apply God’s word to our lives.  Every situation we encounter offers an opportunity to decide based on God’s teachings or our instincts.  Looking to Jesus’ coaching will help us overcome our limited perspective.

In the same way, as we face circumstances and seek God’s guidance, we’ll become better at responding like Jesus instead of ourselves.  Practicing forgiveness makes forgiving easier.  Intentionally asking God to give you His perspective will change how you think about people.  Everyone matters to God, even the person you despise.  God wants them to matter to us.

Decide today to turn to Jesus, allowing Him to help you make decisions.  God gives us a firm foundation and the instructions to navigate this world in the Scriptures that have stood the test of time.  Refer to the owner’s manual to help guide you through your day.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 71) Thomas Nelson

[i] https://www.inc.com/heidi-zak/adults-make-more-than-35000-decisions-per-day-here-are-4-ways-to-prevent-mental-burnout.html#:~:text=It’s%20estimated%20that%20the%20average,than%2035%2C000%20decisions%20per%20day.

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 4:18-5:27 ESV, Acts 15:1-35 ESV, Psalm 141:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 17:23 ESV

Daily Verse: “When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them.” (Acts 15:4 ESV)

APARADECHOMAI (588): “To take fully, i.e., welcome (persons), approve (things). To welcome, to accept gladly, to receive without reserver.”[i]

Accept gladly.

Paul and Barnabas travel to Jerusalem to settle the matter of circumcision.  Jewish tradition required it. Gentiles didn’t.  Following Christ united them and caused a debate that needed settling.  Since God gave the Gentiles the Holy Spirit without circumcision, it became unnecessary.

Arriving in Jerusalem, the apostles felt welcomed by Peter’s church.  Gladly, the people accepted them into their midst.  Following Jesus will develop your hospitality muscle, whether you like it or not.

Christ welcomes all into the kingdom of God.  People choose to decline the invitation.  As messengers of Jesus’s gift to humanity, we must welcome others into His presence.  If we don’t gladly accept others, we’ll miss the opportunity to share Christ’s love.

Ice and ottoman.

Playing in his regular men’s tennis league, Ron hurt his knee.  We traveled to South Carolina for his work the following day, combining it with a visit to our Life Community Church family.  When I texted to let them know our progress, I asked for prayer for Ron’s knee.  The reply text welcomed us with open arms:

“…we’ll have ice packs and an ottoman ready for him to relax and rehab when he gets here!”

Welcoming others gladly comes naturally from our LCC family.  In the past twenty years of friendship, they’ve welcomed us many times.  As a result, our relationship with Jesus grows as we learn more about Him through their hospitality.

See a need, meet a need.  Nothing will convey Christ’s love more than helping others deal with the frustrations of this world.  As you do, you’ll have the opportunity to share the news about eternal life with Christ.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 35) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 3:1-4:17 ESV, Acts 14:8-28 ESV, Psalm 140:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 17:22 ESV

Daily Verse: “Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (Acts 14:17 ESV)

KARPOPHOROS (2593): “Fruitbearing (fig): -fruitful (1x).  As an adjective, denotes “fruitful.”[i]

Fruit-bearing faith.

Paul and Barnabas in Lystra healed a disabled person in front of a large crowd.  Thinking their power came from Greek gods, the people named Hermes and Zeus.  When the apostles hear this, they protest vehemently, reminding them of Jesus and His Spirit that now lives within us.

Because of the Holy Spirit, we become fruitful.  When Jesus departed earth for heaven, He left behind help.  Tuning in to the Spirit’s work in your life happens when you seek God intentionally.

Daily inviting Jesus into your life brings fruitfulness you can find no other way.  Applying Christ’s teachings to your life situations will give you life to the fullest.  Amid the madness, you will produce incredible fruit.

Become fruitful.

Let Jesus help you bear good fruit.  Get to know Christ by reading the gospels.  Feel the love Jesus leads with as you see Him interact with people.  Imperfect, sinful humans whose lives had no hope, Jesus loved.  Learn about Christ’s Spirit through the authors of the Bible who experienced it first.

As you apply Jesus’ teachings to your life, you will become more sensitive to His Spirit within you.  You’ll recognize the nudge that causes you to do what Jesus did instead of what you want to do at pivotal moments.  Leading with grace becomes your calling card the more you follow Jesus.

Recognize the one true God.  Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Begin doing what Christ did.  Without a doubt, you will produce better fruit than you can even imagine.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 128) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 2 Kings 1:1-2:25 ESV, Acts 13:42-14:7 ESV, Psalm 139:1-24 ESV, Proverbs 17:19-21 ESV

Daily Verse: “And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.” (Acts 13:43 ESV)

EPIMENO (1961): “Is a strengthened form of meno (3306) (epi, “intensive”), indicating perseverance in continuing in the grace of God, Acts 13:43.”[i]

Indicating perseverance.

Paul’s sermon captured the attention of “many Jews and devout converts.”  So much so that they followed him from the synagogue, wanting to hear more about Jesus.  The following week, “almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord” (Acts 13:44 ESV)

Urging them to “continue in the grace of God,” Paul and Barnabas encourage them on their journey.  Perseverance requires commitment when we don’t understand.  Following Jesus often means not knowing why.

Circumstances can quickly deter our walk.  Looking around our world today, one can easily ask God, “What the heck?”  Suffering and turmoil hang like a cloud over the earth.

Grace continues.

Learning to respond with grace, despite the pain, takes intentionality.  Choosing to trust God in the chaos of life takes work.  Often, we can’t control what happens in life, but we do control how we respond.  Centering our lives on Jesus helps us respond with Grace.

As a tennis coach, I have the task of teaching independence.  Students must learn how to think for themselves and adjust to a match’s situations.  For success, they must learn to process negative emotions quickly, or else it will impact their game.

We can learn how to respond positively to adverse events.  Recognizing, accepting, investing, and nurturing the painful feelings we have allows us to wash them in God’s grace.  Remind yourself all things work for the good for those who believe and trust in God will help you move forward.

Accepting the truth that in this world, we will have trouble helps us through life’s valleys because we know Jesus overcame the world.  Time and again, Christ’s grace heals our heartaches.  His complete and total love for you has no conditions.  In Jesus, you will find grace to continue, even on the most challenging days.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 98) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 22:1-53 ESV, Acts 13:16- 41 ESV, Psalm 138:1-8 ESV, Proverbs 17:17-18 ESV

Daily Verse: “And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.” (Acts 13:29 ESV)

GRAPHO (1125): “To grave, espec. To write; fig. to describe.”[i]

Written description.

Reading opens doors to unexplored worlds. Unlocking the Bible leads us into a relationship with God.  Story after story in the Old Testament points us to our need for Jesus.  Studying the Gospels shows us how to live like Christ.  Each day we pursue life with Jesus, our faith grows.

As a child, reading “Little House on the Prairie,” the chronicles of Laura Ingalls Wilder, taught me about life in the late 1800s, covered wagons, mud patched homes, and faith.  Ever dedicated to God, the Ingalls family devoted their lives to Jesus, living one day at a time for Christ.

We take the ability to read for granted, but 100 years ago, not everyone could.  Even today, people don’t know how to read in remote areas.  Some areas in Africa have less than 20%, and Afghanistan has a 38% literacy rate.[i]

Written fulfillment.

Jesus fulfilled every word written about Him, including dying on the Cross.  All actions, from stabbing Him in the side, giving Him wine to drink, and throwing lots for His clothing, predicted in God’s word beforehand.  Over 300 prophecies about Jesus’ life came true when Christ lived and died.

Putting into perspective what Jesus did, imagine the state of Texas covered in silver dollars two feet deep—marking one coin, mixing it into the pile, then sending in a blindfolded man to find the coin. He would have the same odds as Jesus fulfilling just 8 of the hundreds of prophecies made about Him.  Yet Jesus did every one of them.

Lose yourself in Jesus by reading God’s word, written by people who dedicated their lives to following Him.  Open a new world, one with endless possibilities as you let God lead you.  Find life to the fullest as you build your relationship with Jesus through the scriptures.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 62) Thomas Nelson

[i] https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/literacy-rate-by-country

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 20:1-21:29 ESV, Acts 12:24-13:15 ESV, Psalm 137:1-9 ESV, Proverbs 17:16 ESV

Daily Verse: “Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts 13:3 ESV)

NESTEUO (3522): “As a verb, means “to fast, to abstain from eating,” and is used of voluntary fasting.”[i]

Voluntary fasting.

Preparing to send Barnabas and Saul off on a mission trip, the church at Antioch fasted and prayed for guidance from the Holy Spirit.  Fasting helps eliminate the distractions of the world and focus our attention heavenly.  Gaining Godly wisdom comes from seeking God earnestly.

Each Monday, I fast breakfast and lunch as I seek God for guidance for the week to come.  Feeling overwhelmed trying to find a rhythm in my life, I realized I needed to become more intentional about seeking God through prayer and fasting.  As a result, I no longer make appointments on Mondays, using that time to seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance. 

Become intentional.

Intentionally seeking God requires thought.  Like any relationship, we must prioritize our time to develop the connection.  Sometimes, we must give up something to establish a stronger bond.

Throughout the Bible, you will find many examples of people fasting.  Daniel’s fast in the Old Testament has become one of the most well-known.  But you can fast other things than food.  In today’s world, digital media sucks the life from us.  On average, we spend 35 hours a week watching television.  When someone opens social media, they typically spend 15 minutes on it.   

The world distracts us in many ways.  Fasting allows us to eliminate distractions and focus our attention on God.  When we do, we discover a stronger connection with God’s Spirit.  Jesus wants to guide you, but you won’t get direction if you don’t seek Him.

Try fasting.  Whether you decide to give up food, or something that hinders your relationship with God, replace that time with prayer.  Meditate on a scripture that speaks to your heart, and allow God to lead you where He wants you to go.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 171) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 19:1-21 ESV, Acts 12:1-23 ESV, Psalm 136:1-26 ESV, Proverbs 17:14-15 ESV

Daily Verse: “Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.” (Acts 12:6 ESV)

DEO (1210): “To bind.”[i]

Bound together.

Peter, chained between guards, experiences a supernatural breakout.  An angel appears before him, instructing him to “Get up quickly” (Acts 12:7 ESV), the chains falling from his wrists.  Getting dressed, Peter follows the angel to freedom, walking past the guards and iron gate.  Once free, Peter’s guide left, and he went to Mary’s house.

Jesus frees us from our bonds, giving us life to the fullest.  However, if we refuse to let go of the bonds, we keep ourselves in bondage. Peter didn’t understand the events unfolding before him, but he knew enough to follow God’s messenger.  We may not understand all aspects of faith in Jesus, but we know we must follow Him to find out.

 Jesus wants to free us from the bonds we struggle to release.  My therapist tells me often, “You’re not that person anymore.”  When we talk about what I consider shameful subjects, I’m the one still holding onto the sin.  God forgave me the instant I laid it at His feet.  Instead of leaving my misdeeds at the foot of the cross, I choose to pick them back up, carrying them with me. 

Break free.

Follow Jesus to freedom.  Let Him lead you out of bondage into the joyous life He has for you.  Holding onto the past makes us miss out on the joy of today.  Internal chains keep us bound between past events.  Jesus wants us to leave the chains behind and follow Him.

“As the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12 ESV)

Faith in Jesus separates us from our sins.  Acknowledging our sins and laying them down at the cross allows us to move forward, leaving the past behind, no longer letting it hold us.  Forgive yourself because Jesus already has.  When Christ got on the cross, He did it for you. 

Freedom in Christ comes when we accept the gift He offers.  If we refuse to leave the bonds behind, we won’t enjoy the grace God offers through Jesus.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 64) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: 1 Kings 18:1-46 ESV, Acts 11:1-30 ESV, Psalm 135:1-21 ESV, Proverbs 17:12-13 ESV

Daily Verse: “When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose” (Acts 11:23 ESV)

CHARIS (5485): “Grace indicates favor on the part of the giver, thanks on the part of the receiver.  Although charis is related to sins and is the attribute of God that they evoke, God’s eleos (1656), the free gift of the forgiveness of sins, is related to the misery that sin brings.  God’s tender sense of our misery displays itself in his efforts to lessen and entirely remove it- efforts that are hindered and defeated only by man’s continued perverseness.  Grace removes guilt; mercy removes misery.”[I]

Favor and thanks.

Grace brings together favor and thanks.   Whoever offers grace extends favor; whoever receives it feels thankful.  Full confession, I still struggle to receive the grace God offers.  For some reason, extending forgiveness to others seems easier than accepting it for myself. 

In my family, my parents placed high expectations on me.  If I came home from school with an A, why didn’t I get an A+?  As a result, I set high standards for myself and others by default.  But God doesn’t place impossible expectations on us.  He gives us one requirement: to believe in Jesus.

Share grace.

If we want to imitate Jesus, we must lead with grace everywhere we go.  When Christ came to earth, He did so on a ticket of grace.  Extending forgiveness for our sins sets us free from condemnation and gives us a second chance at life.

During my undergraduate years in college, I rebelled against God.  Seven long and torturous years passed before I received my degree.  Graduating with debt up to my eyeballs and following my path did not make my life easier.  I created my heartache.

God gave me a second chance when I went back to school for my Masters.  I clung to my Maker as I worked through my classes after a 25-year hiatus.  Receiving God’s grace meant letting go of past mistakes and moving forward with a clean slate.

Whatever areas you struggle to forgive yourself, God’s already forgiven you.  When you submit your life to Jesus, He rebuilds the broken pieces, making you whole.  One day at a time, Christ leads you with His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Accept God’s grace with thankfulness, knowing nothing you do will ever separate you from Christ’s love.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 270) Thomas Nelson